Once a year, we feast to celebrate that our ancestors had enough food to survive their first winter, acknowledging that once upon a time food was something to be grateful for. Then the next day, we throw half of it away.

Along with throwing away the turkey itself, all the resources it took to get that bird to the table will have gone for naught. For instance, it takes 105 billion gallons of water to produce that much turkey - enough to supply New York City for more than 100 days.

This year, give gratitude for food and waste less of it by following these five tips to make the best use of your feast.

Five Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Thanksgiving Feast: Dana GundersFULL POST